In 1735, Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to The Pennsylvania Gazette about protecting towns from fire damage. The opening line, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” has become a well-worn adage that means it’s better to take steps to prevent a negative outcome than it is to repair damage after it occurs. The same is true of skin damage. According to Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Elizabeth Blumenthal of U.S. Dermatology Partners in Sterling, Virginia, “Skin aging doesn’t happen overnight. Years of exposure to damaging UV rays and environmental aggressors, diminished skin cell turnover, and slowed collagen and elastin production all contribute to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and other signs of skin aging. There are numerous dermatologic treatments and skincare steps you can take to keep skin looking and feeling its best. Developing a preventive Botox routine is a simple way to slow progression of skin aging.” Learn more about the benefits of preventative Botox on this page.
What Is Preventive Botox?
In most cases, people seek Botox cosmetic treatments from their medical provider when they first notice fine lines and wrinkles forming. This is usually in the late 30s or early 40s. While Botox has become a go-to anti-aging treatment for many aging adults, most don’t know that Botox can be used preventively as well. Preventive Botox involves injecting small amounts of Botox into specific muscles of the face to prevent them from contracting and forming wrinkles over time. According to Blumenthal, “Preventative Botox can be started at an earlier age, usually in the 20s. You may not notice any wrinkles yet, but they are coming. Preventative Botox treatments help slow the development of fine lines and wrinkles, leaving skin looking smooth and youthful for longer.”
Benefits of Preventive Botox
There are many benefits to pursuing preventative Botox treatment, including:
- It’s always easier to prevent skin damage than it is to correct, including wrinkles and fine lines.
- Results are less obvious when Botox is started earlier. People often worry that their face will look frozen or unnatural after Botox injections. Preventative Botox keeps skin looking smooth and taught.
- Botox treatment plans vary based on a variety of factors, but deep wrinkles often need more frequent retreatment to maintain the desired results. Preventative Botox often requires just one or two treatments a year, saving you time and money.
- For more advanced signs of skin aging, a larger number of Botox units are needed to achieve the desired results. Botox is invoiced per unit, so preventative Botox treatments are often more budget friendly.
- Botox is a minimally invasive anti-aging treatment with little to no recovery time. You can go back to your daily routine right away.
How Preventive Botox Works
Facial fine lines and wrinkles develop over time due to repeated muscle movements. When people are young, high levels of collagen and elastin production allow skin to bounce back easily after facial movements. As we age, decreased collagen and elastin production and the cumulative effects of repeated facial movements result in the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Some facial movements are intentional, but there are also unconscious movements that contribute to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Preventative Botox treatment uses a controlled dose of botulinum toxin that is injected into a specific location to stop the nerve response that causes unconscious muscle contractions. By preventing these movements, Botox injections decrease the development of fine lines and wrinkles. With regular retreatment, preventive Botox keeps skin smooth and flawless.
The Procedure: What to Expect
Botox treatments are fast and comfortable. Elizabeth Blumenthal says, “One of the best things about Botox as a preventative treatment is that the procedure is so quick and easy. I often call Botox a lunch break procedure because you can fit it into your busy day. The entire treatment appointment usually takes about 15-30 minutes from start to finish. In addition to quick treatment time, Botox also has a short recovery time, so you can get right back to your regular routine without needing to take time off from work or miss out on your other activities and obligations.”
Your preventative Botox treatment plan will be completely customized to your unique needs and goals. This includes adjusting the number of Botox units and the injection locations needed to achieve your desired results. Your medical provider will use a fine-gauged needle to minimize discomfort during treatment. Application of a topical numbing cream is an option for patients to further improve comfort during Botox injection. Then, the appropriate number of Botox units are injected into the targeted locations. Once injections are completed, you’ll be monitored for just a few minutes to ensure you don’t have any adverse responses to the Botox treatment. For the first few hours after treatment, you may notice some redness, swelling, or light bleeding around the Botox injection site. This is normal. You may also have some bruising in the treatment location, but this is less common. You can return to most regular activities right away after Botox treatment. However, you should avoid intense exercise and other strenuous activities for a few days and follow any aftercare instructions from your medical provider.
Effectiveness of Preventive Botox
When it comes to the efficacy of preventative Botox, Elizabeth Blumenthal says, “There is some debate among medical providers about whether preventative Botox is truly effective. It’s still a fairly new treatment recommendation. However, most medical providers and patients see positive results. As part of an anti-aging skincare routine, preventive Botox has proven effective in keeping skin smooth and healthy.”
Take Steps to Maintain Smooth, Youthful Skin
According to Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Elizabeth Blumenthal, “No dermatologic treatment is right for everyone. You’ll need to consult a medical provider that specializes in cosmetic treatments to determine if preventive Botox is a good option for you. Whatever decision you make, a cosmetic medical provider can partner with you to develop an anti-aging daily skincare routine and determine what dermatologic treatments you can utilize to achieve and maintain your desired results.”
Schedule a Consultation
The first step in your anti-aging skincare journey is simple – schedule a consultation with a professional. At U.S. Dermatology Partners, we make taking the first step to keeping skin smooth and youthful with preventative Botox quick and easy. Just take a few moments to fill out our online scheduling request form. When we receive your contact form, a member of our local team will be in touch to finalize the details of your upcoming visit.
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